Xnit-fabkic-tbansfeiibing implement



Jam. 27, 1931. J. w. LAUX KNIT FABRIC TRANSFERRING IMPLEMENT Filed July 24, 1928 INVENTOR: Jbhn W. Lawn WiTNESSES 1 W W K.

Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN W. LAUX, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA mr-rannrc-rmnsrnnnme IMPLEMENT Application filed July 24, 1928. Serial No. 295,033.

This invention relates to implements useful in transferring lmitted fabrics loop for loop to the needles of a knitting machine, and is more particularly concerned with transfer I implements especially intended for use with flat stocking knitting machines in turning the welts.

As is well known in the hosiery manufacturing art, turning of the welts of stockings is an exceedingly tedious and exacting operation, and, notwithstanding expertness on the part of the knitters, is often attended by dropping of fabric loops with consequent formation of seconds which must be disposed of at a loss.

My invention is directed toward overcoming the indicated difficulty, that is to say, I aim to simplify and facilitate loop transfer, particularly in connection with turning welts incidental to stocking knitting,'so that the possibility of loop dropping is greatly minimized. This object I attain as hereinafter fully disclosed, through provision of a very simple form of transfer implement with fabric engaging instrumentalities capable of impalement upon the needles of the knitting machines as the fabric loops are transferred to them, and susceptible moreover, of yielding to separation in clearing the needles after the transfer has been accomplished.

With reference to the drawings, Fig. I- is a perspective view showing my improved transferring implement and the manner in which it is applied to the initial course of the fabric in preparation for the formation of a stocking welt on a fiat knitting machine.

Figs. II, III, IV and V, are views similar to Fig. I showing successive steps in the welting operation with the use of my transferring implement. Fig. VI is a fragmentary detail plan view showing how the loop engaging instrumentalities of the welt-forming implement yield sidewise to clear the needles of the knitting machine to enable removal of said implement after the transfer has been effected.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows VII- VII in Fig. II; and,

Figs. VIII and IX show an alternative formof loop engaging instrumentality which may be used in lieu of the type illustrated in Figs. I-V.

As herein depicted, the transfer implement of my invention embodies a holder bar 15 with a series of laterally projecting fabric loop engaging instrumentalities 16 which are spaced in correspondence with the needles of the knitting machine wherewith the implement is to be used, a number of such needles being shown at N. The instrumentalities 16 are longitudinally divided or split, that is to say, have side portions 17, 17 a capable of yielding to compensative sidewise flexure and separation. In the embodiment of Figs. I-V, the side portions 17 17a of the instrumentalities 16 are made as counterpart right and left hand stampings, of thin springy sheet metal, which jointly provide a hook 18 at one end, a depending anchorage butt 19 at the other end and, at an intermediate point, an eye 20 large enough to enable impalement of a needle N. Immediately to the front of the eye 20, the side portions 17 17 a of the instrumentalities 16 are under cut as at 21 with rovision, in each instance, of a stop shou der or rest. If desired, the two side portions 17, 17a may be permanently secured together at their butt ends in any convenient manner, for example by soldering or welding.

As an alternative, each instrumentality may be made from a single stamping of sheet metal such as shown at 17 w in Fig. VIII, said stamping being suitably profiled and fashioned so as to form, when folded along a medial line w-w, the completed unitary split structure 16a: of Fig. IX with a book 1800, a tail butt 19%, an eye 20m, and an under cut shoulder 21w; all in simulation of the previously described type of instrumentality 16 shown in Figs. I-V.

To facilitate initial assembling, as well as to enable subsequent replacements of the instrumentalities 16 (or 160:) when bent or otherwise damaged, I construct the bar 15 in two parts which are designated respectively by the numerals 15a, 15?). As shown, the lower part 15a is of stepped cross section, and has a longitudinal recess 22 to receive and anchor the butts 19 of the instrumentalities 16, while its frontal flange or ridge 23 is transversel grooved'at 24 see Figs. I and VII, for lodgment of the instrumentalities 16 in properly spaced relation with their major portions extending forward of the bar 15 as shown. The upper part 15?) of the bar 15 serves as a cap piece to retain the instrumentalities 16, and is secured by screws 25 taking into the lower part 15a at intervals along the bar 15. For neatness in appearance, and for convenience in handling, the two component parts 15a, 15b of the bar 15 are bevelled along their side edges as at 26, 27, respectively.

, The use of my invention in connection with the manufacture of stockings or the like on fiat knittin machines is as follows: The welt of the stoc (ing is begun in the usual way, i. e., a starting course of loops Z (Fig. I) knit on the needles N, and the-sinker bights of this first course hooked by the instrumentalities 16 of the transfer implement 15, as shown in the illustration just referred to. After being thus engaged with the fabric. in the manner indicated, the implement 15 is coupled in the known way with the take-up mechanism (not shown) of the knitting machine, and said machine thereupon again set in motion to produce a suflicient length of fabric for incorporation into the welt. This stage in the procedure is depicted in Fig. II

of the drawings. The implement 15 is thereupon detached from the take-up mechanism and manipulated by hand so that the loops of the initial course are brought into engagement with the under cut stop shoulders 21 of the instrumentalities 16 and positioned in registry beneath the eyes 20. With the loops Z thus placed, the implement 15 is brought forward so that its instrumentalities 16 are poised above the needles N of the knitting machine in readiness for impalement of said needles by the eyes 20 and closure of the welt, as shown in Fig. III. By continued depression of the implement 15, the impaled loops 1 of the initial course of the knitting are carried down the shanks of the needles N until the beards of the latter are cleared. The implement 15 is next moved laterally in a direction away from the needles N, the side portions of the instrumentalities 16 incidentally yielding to separation to clear the needles N after the manner of Fig. VI, and then swung upwardly as shown in Fig. V so that the loops Z are once more engaged within the hooks 18 of the instrumentalities 16. The implement 15 is thereafter elevated to bring the loops Z into the hooks of the needles N and finally tilted forward slightly to disengage the hooks 18 of the instrumentalities 16 from the loops l. The transferred loops 1 are thus left'on the shanks of the needles N above the loops 1' of the last course knit for the welt, whereupon the machine is restarted and the stocking finished in the customary manner.

The implement 15 of my invention may of course be used in effecting transfer operations other than those involved in the formation of stocking welts, the procedure being so obvious from what has already been said as to preclude the necessity for separate detailed I description.

, preparation for the transfer, said instrumentalities bein longitudinally split for ca acity to yield sid ewise incidental to with rawal from the needles after accomplishment of the transfer.

2. A welt-forming implement comprising a holder bar with laterally projecting fabric loop engaging instrumentalities having eyes adapted for impalement upon the needles of a flat knitting machine in transferrin the fabric, angular undercut forming stop s IOlllders entering the forward part of the eyes, and said instrumentalities each embodying two counterpart side portions fashioned from flexible sheet material for capacity to yield sidewise incidental to withdrawal from the needles after accomplishment of the transfer.

3. A welt-forming implement useful in loop transfer of stockings produced on flat knitting machines comprising a holder bar with a series of laterally projecting hooked fabric loop engaging instrumentalities having eyes adapted to be impaled upon the needles of the knitting machine, and angular undercut sto shoulders entering the frontal portion of t e eyes to position the engaged fabric loops of the initial course of the welt in registry with said eyes in preparation for transfer, said instrumentalities being longitudinally split for capacity to yield sidewise incidental to withdrawal from the needles after accomplishment of the welting operation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 20th day of Jul 1928.

JO W. LAUX. 

